Cart
|
|
my account
|
wish list
|
help
|
800-878-7323
Hello, |
Login
MENU
Browse
New Arrivals
Bestsellers
Featured Preorders
Award Winners
Audio Books
See All Subjects
Used
Staff Picks
Staff Picks
Picks of the Month
Bookseller Displays
50 Books for 50 Years
25 Best 21st Century Sci-Fi & Fantasy
25 PNW Books to Read Before You Die
25 Books From the 21st Century
25 Memoirs to Read Before You Die
25 Global Books to Read Before You Die
25 Women to Read Before You Die
25 Books to Read Before You Die
Gifts
Gift Cards & eGift Cards
Powell's Souvenirs
Journals and Notebooks
socks
Games
Sell Books
Blog
Events
Find A Store
Don't Miss
15% off new books on Powells.com!*
Spring Sale
Big Mood Sale
Teen Dream Sale
Powell's Author Events
Oregon Battle of the Books
Audio Books
Get the Powell's newsletter
Visit Our Stores
Powell's Staff:
Five Book Friday: In Memoriam
(0 comment)
Every year, the booksellers at Powell’s submit their Top Fives: their five favorite books that were released in 2023. It’s a list that, when put together, shows just how varied and interesting the book tastes of Powell’s booksellers are. I highly recommend digging into the recommendations — we would never lead you astray — but today...
Read More
»
Brontez Purnell:
Powell’s Q&A: Brontez Purnell, author of ‘Ten Bridges I’ve Burnt’
(0 comment)
Rachael P.:
Starter Pack: Where to Begin with Ursula K. Le Guin
(0 comment)
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
{1}
##LOC[OK]##
##LOC[Cancel]##
Customer Comments
MICHELLE WILLIAMS has commented on (2) products
The Orphan Masters Son
by
Adam Johnson
MICHELLE WILLIAMS
, January 01, 2013
A very very thought provoking book about a country and people I have never thought about before. Adam Johnson has done a very fine job researching North Korea and writing his story. Assuming the living conditions and complete oppression of North Korea is true, the reality is shocking. The story itself delivers several shocking blows of its own. The story is about Pak Jun Do who believes he is raised by his father in an orphanage after his mother is abducted into service in Pyongyang as she is a beautiful woman. During the famine in North Korea, Jun Do is taken by the military to become a zero light combat fighter. His life twists and turn from there into a very intriguing love story. Adam Johnson's writing is not as poetic and beautiful as David Mitchell's or Ann Pattchet's, but he weaves a masterful story. His picture of North Korea is horrifying - people can not really live in conditions like the ones painted in this book. Yet, he writes some chapters as if they are coming from the government run media through the loud speakers mounted in every home and every factory in North Korea. The propaganda spewed from the loud speakers can be laugh out loud funny.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment
Song of Achilles
by
Madeline Miller
MICHELLE WILLIAMS
, May 08, 2012
This story looks at the life and relationship between Patrocleus, Achilles' Brother-in-Arms and Achilles himself. Apparently, now that I have looked up additional information on the Iliad and general Greek mythology, and re-watched Troy, Patrocleus and Achilles may have been lovers. Or they may have just been very very close friends (The movie Troy portrays them as cousins). Madeline Miller has written her book as a love story between the two from Patrocleus' point of view. Obviously taking a few liberties as the Iliad does not speak directly to the intimate relationship between the two, Miller stays very close to the lore of the Iliad. It took me a little bit to get comfortable with the intimate relationship portrayed here - I am not accustomed to reading about intimate male relationships, but she allowed the reader time to get accustomed to the idea throughout the book. It worked for me and I too really appreciate that this type of relationship can and does exist. Miller has also written the book so beautifully and stayed so close to the story of the Iliad (per Wikipedia) that I now want to read both the Iliad and the Odyssey to fully understand the background story better. I have mixed emotions about the ending. Apparently part of it comes from the Iliad, yet I wonder about the actual history of Achilles' mother and his son. I guess I will be adding more books to the to-read pile to figure it out.
Was this comment helpful? |
Yes
|
No
report this comment